American Crystal Sugar Co. has come out with an initial payment projection of $37 per ton for 2014 crop beets — a dollar lower than last year’s projection at this date and likely a money-loser for farmers and shareholders, if realized.

Lisa Borgen, whose career trajectory has taken her from the courtroom bench to private legal practice, now is switching to the corporate executive suite as American Crystal Sugar’s next vice president for administration.

American Crystal Sugar Co. says it is slowing down sugar production at three of its five factories immediately because of slow rail service. Some agricultural industry officials feel they’re losing out to oil traffic.

Moorhead-based American Crystal Sugar Co. has paid a $24,943 penalty and taken corrective actions to reduce air pollution from emissions at its East Grand Forks facility, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says.

The union has scheduled a third vote Saturday on a contract that triggered the first labor impasse in 30 years at the largest sugar beet processor in the country. On Aug. 1, American Crystal kicked out about 1,300 workers in what a vice president called a proactive move.